TOEIC Booster / Best complete the sentence
Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz Special to The Daily Yomiuri
In the last Booster column, we looked at the TOEFL test. This week, we turn to the TOEIC test. In particular, we will look at vocabulary items in Part V of the test, Incomplete Sentences. We will discuss the import!ance of examining the overall meaning of a sentence in order to choose the word that best completes it.
Incomplete Sentences consists of written sentences that are missing a word or phrase. You must complete each sentence by choosing from four answers. The following examples test vocabulary.
Example 1
We expect that Exetron will continue to >>>> its testing methods rigorously in response to the growth and changes in its client base.
(A) accept
(B) develop
(C) neglect
(D) weaken
The correct response to Example 1 is (B), as it is the best answer to complete this sentence.
"Best answer to complete the sentence" are operative words here, because they are the exact words used in the directions for Incomplete Sentence questions on the TOEIC test. They are import!ant to understand because they imply that while there may be more than one conceivable way to complete the sentence, only one is the best.
In asking test-takers how to "best complete" the sentence, Incomplete Sentences often requires that students understand the overall meaning of each sentence. In addition, the sentences may require students to apply some general knowledge or common sense to the sentence.
Let's look at Example 1 in order to consider the roles of general understanding and common sense when choosing an answer on the Incomplete Sentences portion of the TOEIC. Let us consider the meaning of Example 1 when it is completed with each of the incorrect options--accept, neglect or weaken. Completed with these words, what would the sentence mean?
In fact, the sentence would have little meaning. In response to growth and change, no company can reasonably be expected to accept, neglect or weaken its given methods. Instead, a company is reasonably expected to respond to the growth. Such a response would likely include development, evolution, creation, expansion, research, and so on. This is common knowledge.
Furthermore, the incomplete sentence includes the adverb "rigorously" to describe whatever word ends up completing this sentence. The presence of this word further diminishes the chance that any of these options is workable, as it is virtually impossible to think of accepting, neglecting, or weakening in a rigorous way.
Of the four answer choices in Example 1, only develop really completes the sentences in a meaningful way. This completion is based on common sense and general understanding. In other words, this completion is not based on the grammar of the sentence. Indeed, considering grammar alone, any of the four answer options completes the sentences in a perfectly acceptable way.
However, the TOEIC test does not ask you to complete sentences in an acceptable way. If that were the case, a question like Example 1 would be very hard to answer because, in some highly uncommon potential scenario, it is possible that a company would rigorously weaken its testing methods in response to changes in the market. However, TOEIC questions are not looking to examine every potentiality that one can think of. Instead, they are looking for the best answer.
With these factors in mind, let's try another Incomplete Sentence question.
Example 2
The female journalists were >>>> for entering the men's locker room, as their behavior! violated stadium rules.
(A) paid
(B) praised
(C) promoted
(D) punished
Again, grammatically, all four of these answer options complete the sentence correctly. Furthermore, if we look at just the first half of the sentence, all four answer options yield a completely meaningful clause. That is, journalists can easily be paid, praised, promoted, or punished.
However, if we look on to the second half of the incomplete sentence, we find the key content--that the female journalists' action violated stadium rules. In this case, it only makes sense that there would be some negative consequences to their behavior!. In other words, the best way to complete this Incomplete Sentence is (D).
Our final example is slightly different from the first two, in that some of its answer options work within the overall grammar of the sentence, and some do not. Still, however, the overall meaning prevails in determining the correct response.
Example 3
I will >>> my sales staff to explore how these findings may direct our convention advertisements and imaging.
(A) demonstrate
(B) prevent
(C) manipulate
(D) instruct
In Example 3, the answer options vary dramatically in their potential for answering this question. Answer option (A), demonstrate, is grammatically unacceptable, but in terms of meaning, it may be okay. Answer option (B), prevent, is grammatically incorrect, and it leaves the sentence with a very strange meaning. Answer option (C) is grammatically marginal, but worse than that, it yields an unusual meaning. This leaves only answer option (D), which meets both criteria--grammar and meaning--as it completes the sentence. It is the best response.
Answers to the Incomplete Sentence questions on the TOEIC test must complete a sentence grammatically. Additionally, they must complete the sentence in terms of giving it meaning in reference to the real world. While some answer options may appear to meaningfully complete the sentence, test-takers must be cautious to read and understand the entire sentence. Likewise, while grammar may play some role in informing the correct response, it alone is insufficient for making a judgment.
The next Booster column will feature the TOEFL test. If you have questions or comments about the TOEIC test, or about this column, please e-mail Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz at dy-edu@yomiuri.com.
Stafford-Yilmaz is a former TOEIC test-question writer. She has taught TOEIC courses in Japan and in the United States. She also is the author of several English textbooks.
(Sep. 13, 2007)
Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz Special to The Daily Yomiuri
In the last Booster column, we looked at the TOEFL test. This week, we turn to the TOEIC test. In particular, we will look at vocabulary items in Part V of the test, Incomplete Sentences. We will discuss the import!ance of examining the overall meaning of a sentence in order to choose the word that best completes it.
Incomplete Sentences consists of written sentences that are missing a word or phrase. You must complete each sentence by choosing from four answers. The following examples test vocabulary.
Example 1
We expect that Exetron will continue to >>>> its testing methods rigorously in response to the growth and changes in its client base.
(A) accept
(B) develop
(C) neglect
(D) weaken
The correct response to Example 1 is (B), as it is the best answer to complete this sentence.
"Best answer to complete the sentence" are operative words here, because they are the exact words used in the directions for Incomplete Sentence questions on the TOEIC test. They are import!ant to understand because they imply that while there may be more than one conceivable way to complete the sentence, only one is the best.
In asking test-takers how to "best complete" the sentence, Incomplete Sentences often requires that students understand the overall meaning of each sentence. In addition, the sentences may require students to apply some general knowledge or common sense to the sentence.
Let's look at Example 1 in order to consider the roles of general understanding and common sense when choosing an answer on the Incomplete Sentences portion of the TOEIC. Let us consider the meaning of Example 1 when it is completed with each of the incorrect options--accept, neglect or weaken. Completed with these words, what would the sentence mean?
In fact, the sentence would have little meaning. In response to growth and change, no company can reasonably be expected to accept, neglect or weaken its given methods. Instead, a company is reasonably expected to respond to the growth. Such a response would likely include development, evolution, creation, expansion, research, and so on. This is common knowledge.
Furthermore, the incomplete sentence includes the adverb "rigorously" to describe whatever word ends up completing this sentence. The presence of this word further diminishes the chance that any of these options is workable, as it is virtually impossible to think of accepting, neglecting, or weakening in a rigorous way.
Of the four answer choices in Example 1, only develop really completes the sentences in a meaningful way. This completion is based on common sense and general understanding. In other words, this completion is not based on the grammar of the sentence. Indeed, considering grammar alone, any of the four answer options completes the sentences in a perfectly acceptable way.
However, the TOEIC test does not ask you to complete sentences in an acceptable way. If that were the case, a question like Example 1 would be very hard to answer because, in some highly uncommon potential scenario, it is possible that a company would rigorously weaken its testing methods in response to changes in the market. However, TOEIC questions are not looking to examine every potentiality that one can think of. Instead, they are looking for the best answer.
With these factors in mind, let's try another Incomplete Sentence question.
Example 2
The female journalists were >>>> for entering the men's locker room, as their behavior! violated stadium rules.
(A) paid
(B) praised
(C) promoted
(D) punished
Again, grammatically, all four of these answer options complete the sentence correctly. Furthermore, if we look at just the first half of the sentence, all four answer options yield a completely meaningful clause. That is, journalists can easily be paid, praised, promoted, or punished.
However, if we look on to the second half of the incomplete sentence, we find the key content--that the female journalists' action violated stadium rules. In this case, it only makes sense that there would be some negative consequences to their behavior!. In other words, the best way to complete this Incomplete Sentence is (D).
Our final example is slightly different from the first two, in that some of its answer options work within the overall grammar of the sentence, and some do not. Still, however, the overall meaning prevails in determining the correct response.
Example 3
I will >>> my sales staff to explore how these findings may direct our convention advertisements and imaging.
(A) demonstrate
(B) prevent
(C) manipulate
(D) instruct
In Example 3, the answer options vary dramatically in their potential for answering this question. Answer option (A), demonstrate, is grammatically unacceptable, but in terms of meaning, it may be okay. Answer option (B), prevent, is grammatically incorrect, and it leaves the sentence with a very strange meaning. Answer option (C) is grammatically marginal, but worse than that, it yields an unusual meaning. This leaves only answer option (D), which meets both criteria--grammar and meaning--as it completes the sentence. It is the best response.
Answers to the Incomplete Sentence questions on the TOEIC test must complete a sentence grammatically. Additionally, they must complete the sentence in terms of giving it meaning in reference to the real world. While some answer options may appear to meaningfully complete the sentence, test-takers must be cautious to read and understand the entire sentence. Likewise, while grammar may play some role in informing the correct response, it alone is insufficient for making a judgment.
The next Booster column will feature the TOEFL test. If you have questions or comments about the TOEIC test, or about this column, please e-mail Lynn Stafford-Yilmaz at dy-edu@yomiuri.com.
Stafford-Yilmaz is a former TOEIC test-question writer. She has taught TOEIC courses in Japan and in the United States. She also is the author of several English textbooks.
(Sep. 13, 2007)